Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-03

OLD AND NEW MILITIA.
The Needs Of the District Naue.al
Guard.
LRGIsLArI0N TO RKPLACI THE Law OF l003-A BnL
PREPARED BIT GENERAL oKDwAY-ARnoans, BQuR-
RSTs, ENcAhPxRNTs, ETC, no 81 PROVIDED ZOE
NATIONAL GUARD NOTES or INTEREST.
Every able bodied man In the District between
the ages OF eighteen and forty-nve years may be
required to perform militia duty. The law which
governs the District militia was passed by Con-
gress as far back as the POWDER horn days OF 1903
and In these days Of breech-loading, sixteen-shot
repeating rifles seems tribe antiQuated. Fortu-
nately for the peace OF the average young man
the law has fallen into ''inocuous desuetude" Not
only is 1t tribe obsolete, but some parts are 30
ancient that the reader 10 entirely In
the dark as to its requirements or what
meaning was intended to be conveyed.
Tho city was divided into regimental or legion,
man took up his residence within any Of them it
was the duty OF the commanding Offcer or cap
tain q the district 70 wait upon the new arrival,
him In the company. Before any mihtlaman
could remove from district into another be mad
and get diseSsrSe. THIS V doos he WAS o6ised
within ten days after settlement in the new dts
trict TO report to the ot1cer in command and be
moved, every time he had to 60 through the same
proceeding, and probably long before his time
every company in the city. Il Tie Captain q the
company refused 70 grant the desired certincate
upon application to him he incurred
PENALTY OF SO,
which the marshal OF the District was authorized
TO collect; II payment was refused, by distress
proceedings and sale OF the goods and chattels Of
the delinquent. When none OF these were to be
found the marshal could commit the delinquent
TO jail and hold him in close confinement during
the term OF twenty -four hours for each and every
fine imposed. In this way the flnes or every kind
were collected In view Of which It is safe to suppose
this there were only about fSe drills or musSers a
year There was no escaping them, however, and
Il a private failed to attend he was nned not less
ofncer, not exceeding $40; a captain, not more
than $50. &C, Nor could they as in these
stay around and laugh at the Others W Who " were
unfortunate enough to be obedient II any private,
at or near the muster ground refused to 20 into
order to the distinctiveness Of the militia
II was. apparently, found necessary to impose
nne 81 upon all SSmmsoned Officers
on duty. section OF the law, which causes some
amusement when read, is one that required all
to the battalion companies to appear while on
duty uniformly clothed; provided the expense OF
the same, additional to that OF usual ordinary and
son."
There are many other features about that law
which impress one with the severity Of the dis
dpline at the time It was in force lines were I'm
posed for every conceivable Ofense or actions con-
trary to the regulations.
NEW LEGISLATION NEEDED.
Yesterday Gen. Ordway called the attention OF
the Secretary OF War to the necessity Of legislation
to replace the law OF 1903 which is still In opera
tion and under which the District militia was re-
organized by the President, and submitted for his
consideration draft OF q bill which he has pre-
pared. This bill, with such notifications or addi-
lions as the Secretary may deem proper it is hoped
Will be submitted 10 Congress this year and passed
by that body. Gen. Ordway told a STAR reporter
OF the District between the ages Of eighteen and
forty-nve years must be
ENROLLED IN TnB MILITIA.
But this does not mean that every man must be
a member Of some company and participate in
every street parade or other demonstration. At
the same time that the assessor Of taxes taking
the assessment or valuation Of real and personal
property he will make list of persons Ii BILE to
enrolment, and this will be deemed a SUFFICIENT
notlncat1on 70 all such persons that they have
been enrolled in the militia.
TWO KINDS OF MILITIA
The militia will be divided into two classes-the
active or volunteer, to be known as the National
Guard OF the District Of Columbia" and the mac
tive or Preserve Militia" The duties of the latter
active duty only when called into the service Of
the United States or for the suppression OF riots
and 70 aid civil Officers in the execution Of the law
In these emergencies the cOnmander-in-chief
could order out, by draft or otherwise, such part
OF the reserve militia as would be necessary or
acceps them as volunteers for active service. The
regiments OF the independent organizations will
not anect the individual organization, for pro-
into Congress that no existing volunteer company
shall be changed, consolidated, or attached to any
other organization.
FORMATION OF REGIMENTS.
As stated in THE STAR several days ago, Gen,
Ordway is In favor OF adopting the German sys-
TEN OF forming a regiment OF three battalions
The advantages Of this system are becoming so
apparent and so much appreciated by military
men throughout the United States that It Is only
question OF time when 1t will be adopted by the
Regular Army. 1t Is proper to state here that Gen
Ordway is the first off1cer OF the National Guard
to recognize the merits OF this system OF organiz-
ing, and he has made a thorough study OF it In ali
It's details. At present when the militia want
music for parade the cost Of furnishing IL must
be betrayed from the pockets of the Individual
members OF the companies. 1t Will be recon-
mended that the commander OF regiment or
Datlau0n may employ or raise by enlistment q
Dand OF musicians, not to exceed eighteen In
number, to be under his direction and command
EQUIPMENTS
The subject OF arms, uniforms and equipments
Is one that has agtated the District militia since
It's formation. The amount that was set aside for
the militia wasinsurlcient to meet the demands
that were made upon 1t. Many Of the companies
have been obliged to purchase their blouses Gen
Ordway will recommend that every organization
or the active militia shall be provided With such
arms, uniforms equipments. ammunition colors
and such camp and garrison eQuipage and mill
tary supplies as may be necessary for the proper
training and instruction OF the force Such prop
erty shall De issued, upon the approval and by the
direction OF the Secretary OF War. to the quarter
master general OF the militia. upon acquisitions
approved by the commander-in-chief, and shall be
Issued TO commanders OF regiments, battauons
unattached companies, or detachments Dy the
General But they will remain and
continue TO De the property OF the United states
and every oficer or private receiving them win be
held personally accountable for their care safe
keeping and return. When the subject OF enter.
Ing the militia was first discussed by the indepen-
dent companies the great objection raised was
that they would lose their individual Character
While General Ordway believes that in the course
OF time they will merge into one great body los
ing their separate identity and all desire TO pre-
serve IL, he has nevertheless recommended tnat
any organization OF the active militia may adopt
any other uniform than that issued to them, and
that they shall have the right to own and keep
personal property, which shall be exempt from ali
suits, distresses, &C. At present the great Obstruc
ton IN the way OF perfecting the organization OF
mill fto "a no IocI- nf -